I can't believe the utility company might get away with this.
Even as firefighters continue fighting the Station fire, the largest brush fire in Los Angeles County history, an emotionally charged issue is flaring over how to avoid a repeat of the disastrous 2007 fires in
San Diego County.
On Thursday, the Public Utility Commission is set to vote on a San Diego Gas & Electric Co. proposal to turn off power to some back-country areas during fire-prone times of high winds and low humidity.
The fires, which burned more than 200,000 acres and destroyed more than 1,500 homes, were caused by sparking electrical wires blown down by unusually fierce Santa Ana winds. Power company executives say the shut-off plan would be used sparingly and with several hours' notice. The company has offered to buy generators for schools and sent debit cards to low-income elderly residents in case their homes are without power and they need to evacuate.
For people with health problems who could find themselves without power to run breathing machines and other life-saving equipment, the company is offering emergency transportation to hospitals.
Time out. If power lines are designed and strung correctly, winds can't blow the lines together. Yes lines can stretch over time, which is one of the reasons they need periodic maintenance. In some situations, using line separators is appropriate. Yet, the proposed solution in San Diego County is to shut off power rather than fixing the problems?
What about the water supplies needed to fight fires? Rural water districts and individuals with wells had better have back-up generators, or the homeowners won't be able to help protect their property.
It figures that city folks would think this is a good idea.
The City Council has endorsed the utility's plan. "We cannot afford to keep crossing our fingers and hoping that catastrophic fires won't spread into the city of San Diego from the rural areas of the county," said Councilwoman Marti Emerald as the council prepared to vote recently.
But the supervisors voted 3 to 2 to oppose it. Chairwoman Dianne Jacob, who represents much of the fire-prone back country, is pointed in her criticism of San Diego Gas & Electric Co., a division of Sempra Energy. She says the company is trying to avoid spending money to "harden" its operation by installing underground lines, metal poles and devices that keep wires from battering each other.
"This has nothing to do with safety," Jacob said. "It's about saving money for SDG&E and shifting liability to other people and agencies."
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The company recently agreed to pay $740 million to insurance companies for property damage done by the Witch, Rice and Guejito fires that roared through the county in October 2007.
Power companies usually go to extra effort to prevent poles in soggy settings from rotting and toppling. But in highly fire-prone settings, they roll the dice...maybe that needs to change. Going to underground lines would improve safety and reliability...they might prove worth the higher installation costs.
Niggli said the company has spent more than $40 million on system improvements and preparation for the shut-off program. He said computer modeling shows that no more than 10,000 customers would be without power in any incident. Also, the company notes that San Diego is the only major county in the state without a county fire department.
So what...it's not as if those rural areas lack fire protection. Quoting a previous post on this topic...
Rural San Diego County doesn't have a centralized fire department, instead relying upon a number of independent operations. The quality varies widely, generally dependent upon the affluence of the local community.
There has been a push in San Diego County to merge the rural fire departments and set a common standard. However, the $110 million price tag (an '05 estimate) has been a wee daunting. Plus, several communities don't want to lose local control or, in some cases, see their tax dollars going to support others.
The affluent there can afford enviable fire protection. Other areas go with more spartan set-ups. Advocates of a centralized department are killing their chances by asking for way too much. A sub-plot to this is the expense of firefighters on government payrolls.
We here in rural Josephine County can relate to spartan firefighting set-ups. We also eschew a county fire department, instead relying upon volunteer or private fire departments. Two of our three private operations offer substandard service, and nothing forces residents in these areas to purchase any fire protection. Those of us who pay for the best service available--modest capability--are put at risk by those who purchase the substandard services or nothing at all. Gee, let's make things safer here by shutting off the power during periods of high wind and low humidity.
Do you suppose the Grants Pass City Council is stupid enough to think that's a good idea? Don't answer that.
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